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www.osundefender.org THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2014 Weeks before the August 9th gubernatorial elections which was won by the pragmatic Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola of the APC, it was obvious we were up against forces other than the people of Osun state which naturally should be the determinant of
how the elections will swing. The All progressives Congress (APC) still smarting from its shocking defeat in the previous Ekiti elections had literarily sworn it will lose Osun over its dead body. The murderous villain fielded by the Peoples Democratic
PEOPLE FIRST
VOL. 9. NO.115
Front Page Comment imperial President though utterly clueless, desperate to add The War Called The Osun but Osun to his conquest in furtherance of his stillElections; By Segun Tomori born second term bid. So Party (PDP), outrightly unpopular with barely a few dozens of people trailing him at campaigns however worethe confidence of a Governor-In-waiting. He they
didn’t care a hoot about the people’s wish, all that matters was the full compliment of the paraphernalia of State activated by an
lo and behold, the die was cast!I have not been emotionally attached to any elections in Nigeria as I was with the Osun elections,
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maybe June 12, 1993 Presidential elections presumed to have being won by my President, M.K.O Abiola could be an exception. It wasn’t because I had affinity with anyone in Ogbeni’s government or because I enjoyed any form of patronage but because Continue on pg5
Osun Guber Election:
PDP Plans Attack On Osun INEC Hqrs •Recruits 8-man Gang Of Thugs For Operation
- See Story On Page 2
We Need To Rescue - Pg 6 Nigeria Now - Tinubu
Akinrun - Pg 4 Identifies Attributes In Aregbesola Osun Assembly - Pg 2 Passes 24 Bills Into Law INEC Bombs Owolade’s Petition By Filing 128-page Reply To His 98-page Petition
•(L-R) The governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (left) in handshake with former Lagos State Governor and All Progressives Congress (APC) National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, during a courtesy visit to Tinubu in his office in Lagos State last Monday. - See Story On Page 3
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OSUN DEFENDER Thursday, September 25, 2014
PDP Plans Attack On Osun INEC Hqrs •Recruits 8-man Gang Of Thugs For Operation By KEHINDEAYANTUNJI
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HE State of Osun chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has concluded plans to burgle the state headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should the current trend of not finding anything to back its petition against the election of the incumbent governor and candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola. OSUN DEFENDER come out bluntly on their gathered from authoritative observation so far on the sources within the state PDP ongoing inspection of that the plan to attack the voting materials used for INEC head office in the the August 9, 2014 state was hatched at a gubernatorial election in nocturnal meeting held at the state. Once they were promised the residence of one of the party chieftains in Obokun non-reprisal for whatever Local Government Council contribution they made at Area of the state few days the meeting, it then became a no-hold-barred session, ago. According to one of the as all in attendance sources, the meeting was expressed their doubts on called at the instance of one the outcome of their party at the of the chieftains, who was petition said to have been promised governorship election the Commissioner for petition tribunal. In the reasoning by the Finance portfolio, if the PDP majority, so far, none of the had won the election. At the meeting, those in allegations raised in the attendance were asked to their party petition has been
found to hold, as none of the election materials inspected so far has found the ruling party (APC) and the INEC culpable, as alleged by the PDP and its candidate, Iyiola Omisore, in their petition. With the majority expressing their pessimism on the tribunal outcome, members were then called upon to come up with their suggestions on how best their party could secure victory through the back door. At the end of various
suggestions, the meeting agreed on two lines of action, which in their calculation and support by the presidency, should be enough to award victory to the PDP at the end of the day. The first of the plans would be to burgle the state INEC office through the back of the building complex, and head straight for the room where the commission is believed to be keeping sensitive election materials used for the
August 9 gubernatorial election in the state. To this end, an eight-man gang of Osun-based political thugs was raised under the supervision of the duo of one Layi and Samson, who would coordinate the entire operation along with those to be brought in from Ekiti and Delta states. Should the first plan fail, the meeting further came up with another alternative, which would be to completely set the entire
building on fire through the use of dynamite and other explosive devices with the rooms housing the election sensitive materials as primary targets. To facilitate easy execution of the operation, an INEC-inscribed Toyota Hilux van with fake policemen with tags, are already on stand-by for the assignment. “The fake policemen and other security operatives would soon be deployed to the commission’s office in the state capital to take charge to prepare ground for the final operation,” the source stressed.
Diekola Celebrates Birthday Amidst Thanksgiving For Election Success By FRANCIS EZEDIUNO
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HE peaceful atmosphere in which the Saturday, August 9, 2014 election was conducted without vendetta, bloodshed and rancour has been ascribed to the grace and love of God for the people and the State of Osun. The people of the state were also urged to see the outcome of the elections as the will of God. This remark was made during the thanksgiving prayer made to mark the 58th birthday anniversary of Prince Fatai Diekola Oyedele, an All Progressive Congress (APC) stalwart in the state. In his sermon laced with words of exhortation, an Islamic cleric, Alhaji Moshood Oyedele, harped on the need for humans to always give thanks to God Almighty for every success recorded in one’s endeavours. The cleric described the celebrant as a good man with a large heart and prayed that his thanksgiving would be accepted by God. Prince Tajudeen Oyedele, a family member of the celebrant, thanked God for preserving all the members of the family from 2007, when Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola contested the governorship position of the state under the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), when he was given the mandate in 2010
and this year that he won the election for another term in office. He encouraged everybody not to be agents of mischief, as accounts would have to be made to the Creator one day. At the birthday thanksgiving prayers were members of the family, which included; Princess Rafatu Alabi, Princes Rasaki Bolakale and Busari Oyedele with the father of the celebrant, Prince Ganiyu Oyedele in attendance.
•Holy Trinity Elementary School, classroom in Ilesa constructed under the administration of Governor Rauf Aregbesola, as captured by our cameraman, GBENGA ADENIYI, recently.
Group Charges Youths To Participate In 2015 Elections By ISMAEEL UTHMAN
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S Nigerians approach the 2015 general elections, a socio-political group, Advocate for Collective Transformation (ACT), has called on youths in the country to participate actively in politics for development of the country. ACT said the called on youths in the development of the country South West geo- political should not be left for the zone to participate in the aged alone, who were self- 2015 general elections, centered to the extent of urging them to show installing their own children interest in elective offices in the coming elections. in political offices. National Coordinator of The group specifically
ACT, Mr Oluwatayo Fashogbon, made the call during the inauguration of the State of Osun chapter the group in Osogbo, the State of Osun capital on Monday. Fasogbon encouraged the youths not to be intimidated by the presence of aged politicians, who were not ready to leave the stage in politics, stating that the future of the country should not be placed in the
Osun Assembly Passes 24 Bills Into Law By KAZEEM MOHAMMED HE current parliament of the State of Osun has, so far, passed a total of 24 bills into law within the last three years.
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Deputy Leader of the House, Honourable Afolabi Atolagbe and Chairman, House Committee on Information, Honourable Ajibola Akinloye disclosed this in Osogbo on Monday. The duo said there are 15 other bills under processing before the House, while four of them have been proposed to go through public hearing before further consideration. They noted that the bills that have been passed were those that have direct
developmental impacts on the lives of the people of the state. Atolagbe said the first bill passed was a private member bill, which was Osun State Agency for the Control of HIV/AIDS (OSACA) Bill, adding that the bill was sponsored by him and it has assisted the state government in the control of the disease. According to him, due to the law that had been passed on the disease, the government has been able to
get assistance from foreign donors for the control of the disease, while discrimination against those suffering from the disease has gone done tremendously. Akinloye, in his own, identified Omoluabi Conservative Fund Bill, Security Trust Fund Bill, Protection Against Domestic Violence Bill and Legitimacy Bill, as well as Appropriation bills, as some of the bills that have been passed and impacted on the lives of the people. He said virtually all the bills passed by the House have been assented to by the governor, except the one recently passed in
September 2014. Noting that all the bills pending have been penciled down for passage before the expiration of the tenure of the current legislature, the lawmaker noted that the bills would further add value to the governance of the state. Describing the present Assembly as unusual, vibrant, committed and comprising of worthy professionals, he said this has assisted the arm of government in its activities. He said the experience and transparency of the leadership of the House has also assisted in its legislative business.
hands of the vulnerable politicians. “The present crop of Nigerian leaders are selfish individuals, who are only after their children,” he stated, noting that the current occupants of political offices in the country are preparing their children to take after them. The group coordinator urged the youths to take up the challenges of leadership and participate in all political activities ahead of the next year’s election. Lamenting the negligence of youths in Nigeria politics, the South West Coordinator of the ACT, Mr Kunle Adepoju, charged Nigerian youths to team up to challenge poor governance in the country. The objective of the ACT, according to Adepoju, was to advocate for the inclusion of youths in all levels of governance. Adepoju said it therefore, behoved on the youths to ensure that the best candidates occupy political offices through credible electoral process. He however, called on Nigerian leaders to start giving the youths needed encouragement and training for leadership positions.
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OSUN DEFENDER Thursday, September 25, 2014
INEC Bombs Owolade’s Petition By Filing 128-page Reply To His 98-page Petition •Asks Tribunal To Strike Out 23 Of 46 Paragraphs Of His Petition By FRANCIS EZEDIUNO
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HE Independent National Electoral Commision(INEC) has filed a 128-page reply to the petition filed by Barrister Niyi Owolade, candidate of Accord Party, who polled 377 votes at the August 9, 2014 governorship election in the State of Osun. In the reply dated 19th 30,33,34,36,37,40,41,42(I) 42(vii) (2) day of September, 2014 42(II) and signed by Chief (3)(4)(5),42(ix),43,44 and Adegboyega Awomoolo 46 of the petition, on the (SAN); A.B Mahmoud ground that they are (SAN), OON; Dr. Onyechi generic, vague and Ikpeazu (SAN), OON, imprecise. The paragraphs sought Hassan M. Liman (SAN); Ahmed Raji (SAN) and 17 to be struck out by INEC other lawyers, the INEC is are 28 out of the 46 asking the court to strike paragraphs’ petition of the out paragraphs 17, 19, 22, petitioner. If the INEC’s prayer is 23, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29,
granted, the implication is that there will be nothing left for the petitioner to prove at the hearing of the petition. Apart from the preliminary issue raised in its reply, INEC contended that Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, sued as the 1st respondent, was validly elected and returned on the 9th August, 2014 in Osun State gubernatorial election. The electoral body further contended that the election substantially complied with the Electoral Act, as well as the INEC Manual for
Election Officials 2014. According to INEC, there were no irregularities or acts of noncompliance, which substantially affected the election in the 30 local government council areas that comprise Osun State. On the allegation that O’YES cadets were used as INEC Ad-hoc staff, INEC in its reply stated that in line with its regular practice and policy, the third respondent used members of the NYSC as Presiding Officers and Assistant Presiding Officers at the election. Supervisory Presiding
Officers and other sensitive positions were filled with staff of federal tertiary Institutions, as well as federal establishments. The third respondent also invited National Commissioners of INEC, Resident Electoral Commissioners from other states, Supervising Directors from INEC Offices nationwide and so many other staff within the state to ensure that the election was dulyconducted. Ad-hoc staff were invited by INEC without any interference from the governor or his party, APC or other interest groups and there were no irregularities or noncompliance attributed to them, which substantially affected the result of the election. To cap it all, INEC maintained in its reply, contrary to the lies of the
petitioner, that the ad-hoc staffers engaged for the election swore to the Oath of Neutrality in compliance with Section 28 of the Electoral Act. Members of INEC did not engage in “post-election swearing of oaths” and the agents of the 3rd Respondents were neutral and objective in the discharge of their election duties, as they dulyexecuted the requisite forms and depositions. In support of the reply to the petition, INEC frontloaded 31 witness statements on oath, majority of whom were the Electoral Officers of all the local government council areas in the State of Osun; all testifying to the fact that the election was free, fair, credible and in substantial compliance with the Electoral Act. They urge the tribunal to dismiss the petition for lacking in merit and a waste of time of the court.
Two Suspects Arraigned For Stealing By MARYAM AFOLABI
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•Ajia Estate road in Ijebu-Jesa, State of Osun, rehabilitated under the administration of Governor Rauf Aregbesola, as captured by our cameraman, GBENGA ADENIYI, recently.
APC Aspirant Gives N2.5m Scholarships To Pupils By KEHINDEAYANTUNJI
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N aspirant for the State of Osun House of Assembly, on the platform of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Egbedore Local Government Council Area, Abidemi Faboye, popularly known as ABIFAB on Saturday presented scholarship letters to 60 secondary school pupils. The scholarship worth the examinations to further N2.5 million was their studies in higher presented to the institutions. beneficiaries during his Speaking during the formal declaration to presentation, Abidemi said contest Egbedore State the scholarship has Constituency seat, held at commenced since 2013 Baptist Day School, with only 10 pupils and Iragberi. another 10 pupils in 2014, The pupils, according who all passed their exams to Abidemi, would be with minimum of six-eight provided free registration credits. of National Examination He said he decided to Council with 16 weeks’ expand the scheme to Summer Class in Lagos, provide the opportunity for which includes feeding more pupils across the 10 and accommodation. wards in the council area. The scholarship According to him: “ The committee selected five best favour you can do for secondary school pupils a man in life is to give him per ward including those education, especially at the who had failed the O’ foundation level, which we Level Examination in the strongly believe that our past and wish to rewrite intervention will produce
more lawyers, medical doctors, engineers who will make our community proud. “This gesture is not by accident, it is a result of our consciousness about the philosophy of our party, to make life more abundant for the people and provide education for all. “This philosophy is obvious in the six-point integral action plans of Governor Rauf Aregbesola with his unprecedented commitment in providing sound and quality free education in the state. This is also our vision”. Chairman of the occasion, Chief M.D Oguntimehin, Chairman Koboko Group of Companies, described Abidemi as a honest and reliable person, who could be trusted with leadership positions. He urged the people of Egbedore local Government Council Area
to support the ambition of Abidemi and assured them that his emergence would lead to massive infrastructural and economic development of the area. Abidemi also presented helmets to commercial motorcyclists and cloths to the aged people in the council area.
WO suspects, Akinlolu Akingbade and Folakemi Mankinde, have appeared before an Osogbo Magistrate’s Court for allegedly conspiring to commit felony to wit stealing. The charge sheet read counsel for the two in court that the accused accused persons, Nnena persons in company of Ugwu, pleaded for the bail others at large on 17th of of the two in the most September 2014 at Oke- liberal terms. While announcing his Baale Osogbo stole the the sum of N80,000 belonging appearance, to one Akinlolu Akinlola. prosecutor, Inspector It further stated that Solomon Oladele, did not the offence committed oppose to the bail of the was contrary to and two accused persons but punishable under stressed that there should Sections 516 and 309 of be provision for sureties. The presiding the Criminal Code Cap Volume 2 laws of Osun magistrate, M.A Lasisi, then granted the bail to the State of Nigeria 2003. However, the two accused persons in the accused persons pleaded sum of N50,000 with one not guilty to the three- surety each, while count charges levelled adjourning the case till November 10, 2014 for against them. Meanwhile, defence further hearing.
Man In Court Over Destruction Of Property By REBECCA ADENIRAN
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OLICE in the State of Osun has arraigned one Ganiyu Abolubode before an Osogbo Magistrate’s Court for allegedly destroying two shops worth N200,000. It stated further that According to the charge sheet, the accused the offence is contrary on September 9, 2014 and punishable under destroyed two shops section 451 of the worth N200,0000 at criminal code. The defence counsel Fiwasaye area of Osogbo for Mrs D.Y Dada belonging to one Engineer pleaded for the bail of the Adetunji Ajulo. accused in the most
liberal terms. However, the prosecutor, Inspector Oladele Solomon, did not opose the bail but urged the court to ensure that the sureties were available. The presiding magistrate, M.A. Lasisi, granted the accused person bail in the sum of N100,000, with two sureties before adjourning the case to November 17, 2014.
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OSUN DEFENDER Thursday, September 25, 2014
Ebola: Parents Commend Osun Govt Over Schools’ Resumption By KAZEEM MOHAMMED
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ARENTS in the State of Osun have applauded the state government for its prompt action over the issue of school resumption in the state, describing it as best measure for stakeholders’ welfare. Some parents, who week, described the state spoke with OSUN governments decision to DEFENDER during the train teachers on how to
handle the virus as proactive and the best way of handling parents’ fear on the disease. According to Mr Sherrif Babawle, a resident at Ita-Olokan Area of Osogbo, the decision to shift resumption to October 6,
to allow government train teachers on how to handle hygiene issues and sick children in the schools, is a good one. He added that there is no way any parent would want to send his children or ward to school and nurse fear that they may
•A scene of an auto-accident along a street in Osogbo, State of Osun, last Thursday.
fall sick or contact any virus, saying such could lead to crisis in the state. According to him, it is unfortunate that the Federal Government could reverse its decision quickly without putting in place necessary measures to curtail the
Photo: SEGUN ADEJUMO.
‘Stomach Infrastructure’ Earns PDP Votes In Osun - Lawmaker By KAZEEM MOHAMMED
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HE lawmaker representing Ayedaade State Constituency in the State of Osun House of Assembly, Otunba Yemi Taiwo, has said it was the distribution of rice, kerosene and money that assisted the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to poll such high number of votes in the August 9, 2014 governorship election in the state. “Also, the arrest of Governor Rauf Aregbesola of All some of our party Progressives Congress members reduced the (APC) polled 394,684 to votes we could have defeat his PDP gotten because apart from counterpart, Iyiola those arrested, many Omisore, who scored others could not come out to vote due to the fear of 292,750 votes. Taiwo during the chat, being arrested. “They pounced on our said, if not for the “stomach infrastructure people; they arrested our and money-for-vote” party agents, the leaders tactics adopted by the and they were not PDP, there was no way released until after the Omisore could have election,” he said. Explaining the roles scored such votes high played by the Minister for number of votes. He added that Police Affairs, Jelili Aregbesola could have Adesiyan in the election, scored more votes if not he lamented how the for the arrest of APC minister was boasting to members and leaders, a arrest, detain and even kill situation which scared APC members, especially many people to come out in Ayedaade Local Government Council Area and vote. “What is responsible for of the state. The lawmaker, who the high number of PDP votes was money, rice and attributed the victory kerosene they distributed recorded by the APC at before the election and on the election to divine intervention and the election day. Aregbesola’s
performance, he commended the people of the state for standing firm. He stated that despite the heavy presence of
masked and unmasked security personnel, the people of Osun defied the federal force and stood by their votes.
Taiwo then called on the people of the state not to renege in their support for Aregbesola to ensure more success of his administration.
problem in the event it breaks out in schools in any part of the country. Speaking at a seminar recently, Chief Atanda Awoniyi described the decision of the state government to train teachers in each school, as an effective way of telling parents that the schools are safe. He reiterated that no one would allow his child to go out of the house with the fear that such child may never return or wake at a hospital for treatment of a deadly disease, adding that it is only when one is sure that the schools are safe that normalcy could return to places of learning. In her own view, Mrs Hannah Opawole disclosed that if government had not extended the resumption date, some parents would not have allowed their children to resume schooling in the face of the deadly scourge. She commended that state government for taking the bold steps of ensuring that the scourge did not spread to the state, saying if the state had witnessed a single case of the disease, it would take it time to convince parents to release their children to return to classes. Meanwhile, other parents who spoke under anonymity had implored the state government to ensure prompt completion of training before the October 6 resumption date, so that no hiccups would further delay the opening of schools in the state.
Akinrun Identifies Attributes In Aregbesola By MURTALA AGBOOLA
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HE Akinrun of Ikirun, Oba Abdulrauf Olayiwola Adedeji II, said recently at the Osun State Muslim Community (OSMC) meeting at Ikirun Central Mosque, Oja Oba Ikirun, that he alongside with some other traditional rulers in the State of Osun identified an altruistic quality in Governor Rauf Aregbesola, hence their decision to identify with him. He said they could not Sheikh Salaudeen Ade have done otherwise Olayiwola, the Presidentbecause Aregbesola is a General of the Muslim serious and a good Ummah in the State of governor. Osun. Oba Adedeji, who The Muslim leader came to the meeting with stated that he gave credit the Aragbiji of Iragbiji, to some traditional rulers Oba Rasheed Ayotunde in the state, especially the Olabomi Odundun II, the Akinrun and others for Oloyan of Oyan, Oba standing by the governor Kilani Adekeye Oyedare to ensure his success in Oluyeye I and t h e the last gubernatorial Elende of Eko Ende, Oba election. Abdul-Rauf Adebayo The monthly meeting of Ajiboye, stressed that as OSMC, which is rotated the custodians of the among major towns in the people they are not State of Osun, was wellpoliticians but saw in attended by Muslim Aregbesola the desire to faithful. develop the state in haste. The meeting Oba Adedeji made the commenced with the remark in response to a recitation of the Holy statement credited to Quran, while Alhaji
Mustafa Ghazali, during his sermon (Dawah), urged Muslims to be shining examples to others. He also admonished Muslims to enjoin their fellow human beings not to go against the injunctions of Allah. The Vice-President I of OSMC, Alhaji Mustafa Olawuyi, traced the genesis of the body to a meeting held in Mecca, Saudi Arabia by some by some indigenes of the state, where those present decided that there should be a forum for all Muslims in the state to come together. Olawuyi advised Muslims to give their offsprings good education, so that they can be useful as professionals in the field of law, engineering, medicine and many others. Muslims were told that they could avail themselves with the Sharia Court in the state,
which sits at the headquarters of the body at Surulere, off Ring Road, Osogbo on the first Thursday of every month. Pastor Ifagbajesu Peter, who got converted on his pilgrimage to Israel, is now Bro. Ahmed Ojo, who now practices his new faith with his immediate family members and his mother. Among the Muslim dignitaries and clerics that attended the meeting were Alhaji Olapade Hashim, the SecretaryGeneral of the organization and the Chief Imam of Ikirun, Alhaji Yunus Balogun. Others were the Osun Central Senatorial Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Gbadamosi Owoseni, Chief Imam of Ifelodun, Alhaji AbdulAzeez Arisekola, Alhaji AbdulLateef Olayanju, Alhaji Yunus Yayi among others.
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OSUN DEFENDER Thursday, September 25, 2014
By ISMAEEL UTHMAN
The War Called The Osun Elections -By Segun Tomori Continued frompg1 I just couldn’t imagine my home State go back to the disastrous “years of the locust”. I had participated actively in the campaigns, interacted with the people, felt their pulse and the story was the same – Osun has never had it so good, the people vowed to defend their votes by all means possible! From that moment I had made up my mind to give my all and put myself at harm’s way if need be to ensure we form a bulwark of resistance against the machinery of State to be deployed to thwart the people’s wish. When I was about to proceed on my journey to Osogbo, the Osun State Capital on Monday preceding the elections I prepared for the worst. Few associates privy to my trip advised strongly that I removed any APC sourvenir from my luggage,any ID card that can associate me with the party amongst other security tips. They were right to be apprehensive, soldiers, officials of the Department of State Security(DSS) including the hooded ones,lorry loads of mobile policemen had since being deployed across the nook and cranny of Osun State. Bearing in mind the desperation of their paymasters, we knew they could stop and search vehicles and abduct anything synonymous with APC, so I took all the precautions. I took off on the journey which in itself was dramatic. As we got close to Oshogbo, a discussion ensued in the bus and I found out I was not alone in the Save-Osun initiative. Most of the passengers shared the same sentiments with me and were also natives of the State. They spoke emotionally and fiercely about their determination to ensure Aregbesola’s victory. Speaker after speaker reeled out programmes and interventions of the Governor that has brought smiles to the faces of the people. They concluded he was the best thing to happen to the State since its creation. The menacing apparatus of State then suffocating the enviroment will not deter them, they thundered! “Ko si ohun ti soja o se, a ma duro gboin gboin lati dibo Aregbe” they said in yoruba dialect meaning “there is nothing Soldiers can do, we will stand firmly to vote for Aregbe”. I thought to myself, we are about to witness mass resistance unequally in our national history if anything go against the people’s will. Hopefully, the soldiers we met on the various checkpoints didn’t stop and search, they just peeped through the bus windows and passed us on. I heaved a sigh of relief when I arrived Osogbo safely late in the evening. I have attended rallies, mega-rallies , name it, but what I saw on Tuesday at the grand-finale of the campaign was
frightening. A stadium whose capacity can’t be more than 60,000 almost caved in due to pressure from an unprecedented mammoth crowd. Every space on the covered stands were over-filled, the main bowl of the Stadium was virtually unpassable. My associates and I had to hold ourselves to navigate our way through the crowd, it took us about an hour from the entrance of the stadium to find somewhere to perch! Yet thousands more extend to adjoining roads outside the stadium. It was the APC mega-rally and to say it was awesomely mega is an understatement! We even heard that the Lord of Aso-rock caught an instant migraine seeing the magnitude of the rally! The effect of that was seen in the sealing off of the freedom park that was supposed to host workers rally the next day by “hooded soldiers” They got the now familiar, albeit emergency “orders from above” to forcefully if need be halt the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and its affiliates endorsement rally for the Ogbeni. Co-incidentally, Wednesday, 6th August was my birthday but I was in no mood for celebrations of any kind. I told my wellwishers, family and friends that you don’t clink glasses in a battle-front! Interestingly, one of my compatriots who was also a major ‘battle-axe” and good friend’s birthday was 8th August so I told him we’ll do a birthday plus victory party on the 10th, a day after the elections,when we triumph at the polls. We know we had the people behind us, we never gave defeat a thought! By Thursday, preparations had reached feverish pitch, the towns, hamlets and villages was now massively flowing with uniformed men of all hues and shades. Some DSS operatives came to the restaurant we were having dinner, Thursday evening, apparently on surveillance mission. We got the message and we left in a jiffy! On our way to our location, we noticed a car trailing us, so we had to take a decoy to a bar. As we turned to the bar, the car also turned in another direction. Their mission still remains a mystery. Thank God for little mercies! When we arrived our abode, we swung into action to put finishing touches to our master-plan which was to run a coordinated and effective live broadcast of the elections on social and online media in collaboration with the APC situation room which was to start from Friday evening till the announcement of the results on Sunday. This was necessary because leaking the plans of our devious opponents was key to frustrate their rigging machinery; announcing results online as we get it directly from our agents was also crucial to frustrate any manipulation at the collation level. By Friday afternoon, I had to tactically separate from my friends who then proceeded to a high security location. The curfew was going to start around 56pm. By 4pm, I arrived at my own secure location and quickly moved to set up. I surveyed the enviroment to assess the
possible threat level. I saw that it was negligible so I settled down for the task ahead. By Friday evening we got intelligence report that notorius election rigger, Chris Uba was in town with a unit of 50 soldiers attached to him. We sent that out and made sure it went viral. Later that night, information about the arrest of our leaders ranging from APC Publicity Secretary, lai Mohammed, the Attorney-general Of Osun State, barr. Wale Afolabi, Tinubu’s Special Adviser on media, Mr Sunday are, Commissioner for Agric among others were swiftly publicised with dispatch. The far-reaching effect of the noise we made contributed in no small measure to the release of most of those picked up by Saturday morning. We discovered by Saturday morning that fake soldiers and policemen had surfaced in many locations. Their logo was a red ankara tied to their left hand. Quickly we activated our instant alert to our people,through all means possible. That again thwarted efforts to manipulate the elections from the beginning. The elections started peacefully however in most locations with accreditation going on smoothly. The only snag was the continued harassment of APC leaders across the State. The case of the 1st Civilian Governor of Osun State, Alhaji Isiaka Adeleke was quite instructive. After failing to assasinate him over-night due to resistance by his security aides, he was trailed from the polling unit to his mother’s residence where he went after accreditation. He escaped the siege by the whisker after he was discreetly notified. He couldn’t come back to exercise his franchise. The results started trickling in by afternoon and the PDP demolition squad sensing their rejection quickly switched to a plan B to disrupt the collation process. We instantly alerted the public about their norturnal meeting and evil plot. What really helped the APC apart from the determination of the people was our access to classified information. We were always a step ahead of them and that frustrated the election riggers. I got an anonymous call from a patroitic police officer around 8pm who claimed he was at a location at modakeke and that results being collated was about to be altered. You could detect the fear in his voice as he asked me to ensure his cover. He was an igbo officer deployed from other states, he wasn’t familiar with the terrain but what was gratifying that there could still be few men of integrity in the corruption-ridden Nigeria Police Force. In order to confirm the authenticity of his Statement, I asked the Apapa Local Government Chairman who was with me to speak to him. He sounded credible, he concluded. So I made some calls to the authorities and sent text message to our men to act immediately.
I
Sheikh Ajisafe did not hold any public office but his impact in the affairs of his community cannot be overemphasized. His contribution to the development of his state was crystal clear for even infants to see;this shows there is life after death and this kind of life speaks soundly than physical
If we thought the threats have been subdued, we were in for a shocker! The returning officer whose task it is to announce the final result was under pressure to collect a whooping N1b and announce Omisore winner! They were ready to damn the consequences and ask us to go to court. So we had to practically go on our knees! I salute the indefatigable people of Osun State, they were resolute, they stood like a rock, stayed on the streets all through and formed a human shield around the collation centre. Then the returning officer came in around 1.35pm. The results of all the local governments were announced before 5am. Then we now witnessed dilly-dallying of the highest order. It got to a point around 7am, anxious journalists and people started singing asking for the results. Lo and Behold, at about 7.10am, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola was finally pronounced the winner! There was instant jubilation across the nook and cranny of Oshogbo. Never in the history of elections have I seen such spontaneous excitement pervade the landscape because of results announcement. Within the twinkle of an eye, the whole town went agog with people clutching their brooms- symbol of the Governor’s party, congratulating themselves, okada riders driving menacingly in such euphoric ecstasy and finally we could say hurray! We won! We didn’t win an election, we won a WAR with a stone like the biblical david. Goliath came to battle with the best arsenal at his disposal but we came with the will of a determined people that vowed that never again shall they go the road of perdition they once trodded. Who says the voice of the people is not the voice of God? Because ultimately the hand of the Almighty saved the day and gave us victory. Osun ti dara ooooooo. Segun Tomori
Before 11pm, we already had all the results and we had won, though unofficially. What sealed the deal for us and put paid to
What'll You Be Remembered For? N recent time, the death of two prominent personalities in their respective calling raises a fundamental question in my heart and make it more assured to me that there is time for everything on earth as the Holy Bible stated. It is so clear and known by all men born to this world that death is a natural phenomenon and there is no man that will not taste of it. The death of the President General, League of Imams and Alfas, South-West, Edo and Delta, Alhaji Sheikh Mustapha Ajisafe, shows how important it is to be committed and faithful to what one is doing. This religious leader died after many years of being Chief Imam of Osogboland but all areas and aspects of his work were well-spoken about after his death.
any manipulation the PDP had in stock was the unexpected congratulation of Aregbesola as the winner of the election around 9.40pm by the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuade. Omisore according to our sources had already informed Asorock that there was fighting in his home-town of Ile-Ife because according to him, the results we were circulating were fake and he was actually leading in the “original” results. The Ooni swiftly debunked that, not only congratulated the Governorelect, but also stated that nobody was fighting in Ife! That took the sail out of the wind of Omisore and his treacherous gang.
The life of these two men has given me several sleepless nights and I keep asking myself of what I would be remembered for as a youth, who has not started doing anything and for those who has been in one position or the other, what will they be remembered for? These two men were not of the same profession, but each of them contributed his quota to his chosen career. Both Dimgba Igwe and Sheikh Mustapha Ajisafe did not hold any political post that attracted people’s attention to their deeds, but they will forever be remembered as to touching people’s lives in their own peculiar ways.
life. Dimgba Igwe is also another man that took life like a storm, though he is now late. A Yoruba proverb says: “tie eye o ba fi ye niran, oju orun tan eyee fo lai fara kanra”, •SEGUN ADEJUMO, which means that, “If a bird won’t bother another, the sky is Agunbeelewo Area, Osogbo, wide enough for them all to fly.” State of Osun.
OSUN DEFENDER Publisher
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OSUN DEFENDER is published by Moremi Publishing House Limited, Promise Point Building, Opposite Guarantee Trust Bank GTB, Gbongan Road, Osogbo, State of Osun. All correspondence to the above mail address. ISSN: 0794-8050 Telephone: 0803-392-7286, 08033880205 Website: www.osundefender.com/index.php e-mail: osundefender@yahoo.com
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INTERVIEW
OSUN DEFENDER Thursday, September 25, 2014
We Need To Rescue Nigeria Now Tinubu Piqued by the state of the nation, the national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, called for immediate action in order to rescue the country from total collapse. In an interview he granted during his condolence visit to the widow of the late Vice Chairman of The Sun Publishing Ltd, Pastor Dimgba Igwe, Obioma, the former Lagos State governor spoke briefly on the problems confronting the nation and his rumoured sickness recently. Excerpts: By CHARLES ADEGBITE
W
ITH the death of Dimgba Igwe, what have you to say on the state of the nation with the myriad of problems confronting her? At a period when oil revenue has remained stable for the last number of years at $100 per barrel, if the quality of life of our people is still as this, it is unfortunate. Poverty, insecurity, unemployment! In fact, if the per capita income of an individual, I mean the purchasing power of an individual is improved upon, you will be better off. That is the truth. And if the gap between the poor and the rich is widening and some few, very tiny people are moving towards the ceilings while some people remain on the floor, permanently on the floor, crawling, and wallowing in poverty. We have to think about the type of society we want to build. Here is a man’s house; simple. When you hear the name of Dimgba outside there, you will think he is wealthy. You will think he is living in affluence. On his part, you will see sign of someone still struggling economically in this environment. Is that the type of Nigeria we will continue to build with sentiments, emotions and wrong assumptions? All we have to do is to rescue our nation and build ourselves in a way that will bring happiness and prosperity to our people. That is what we should think about now. People are worried about your health, what is the state of your health? My appearance puts an end to that rumour. Wait a minute. I have not taken a rest since 1994 after MKO Abiola’s election. In the Social Democratic Party
(SDP), days when we were in trenches, it was either you were in exile or somewhere else. It was a day-in-day-out working machine type of life. It is either one person was facing this direction or the other man facing the other direction. When the late Chief Anthony Enahoro came back, may his soul rest in peace, he came back with a walking stick. You know it was a gruesome period that nobody could sleep and take an adequate rest. Then came 1999; and ever since then, we have been on a political horse race, barefooted, fighting a war while some people are on the horse. The body must rest. A whole lot of you might not know. Sometimes I don’t go to bed until 4.30 in the morning and by 8:00 am I am already up answering questions and planning elections. What then happened? I have promised myself and my family that, one day I will escape, go to rest and nobody would be able to reach me. And that was what I did. I didn’t do anything rather than general medical checkup in April. Okay? It was not even up to a time to check. I went to my doctor mend to say do I have to, or do you have to examine me again with all these rumours going on? And he said forget it. Now, tomorrow, if you like I would bring my exercise bike out and I will ride for you. E-e-eh... There is nothing (wrong with me). That is the truth. I didn’t even have a need for a Panadol or Paracetamol since I have been away. That is the gospel truth. And if you go to Lagos State Ministry of Health, some people are insinuating that
•TINUBU
Lagos State is paying his medical bills. That he has been there. You go to the ministry and find out. What then is your advice to journalists on this type of rumour? I think as a member and leader in this profession-Journalism, I will say you must be challenged to question some of these hearsays from those who will just go to Isi Ewu centers and cook stories because it tells on your profession, integrity and honesty. Again, if you try to
cry wolf, wolf, and wolf when there is none, the day wolf comes; nobody will be there to rescue you. Then, intellectually we have seen that in the area of politics, this is political genocide as far as I am concerned. Is there anybody there who had planted poison in my body, expecting it to incubate and germinate and kill me by now? Or hospitalize me by now? That is making my family members worried. •Culled From THE SUN
FEATURE WITH a meagre monthly allocation of an average of less than one billion naira from the Federation Account and an Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of less than N1bn naira a month, Governor Rauf Aregbesola has maintained a motivated workforce paid as at when due; built, renovated and reconstructed primary and secondary school building across the state; rehabilitated, reconstructed and constructed health facilities; built and reconstructed roads and streets designed and completed with covered drains, walk ways and street lights; provided communities across the 30 local government areas in the state with potable water and electricity as well as flood control, environmental sanitation and beautification. Osogbo, the Osun State capital, is undoubtedly a cleaner, safer, orderly and beautiful city compared to the decay of the past. Compared with some Niger-Delta oil producing states’ huge monthly allocation of an average of N20bn and IGR receipt of N8bn, Governor Aregbesola by all standards qualifies to be termed a genius in financial management, prudence, accountability and transparency. Governor Aregbesola introduced Sukuk Bond to fasttrack the state’s economic development. He knows that Sukuk, commonly referred to as the Islamic equivalent of bond, is opposed to conventional bonds, which merely confer ownership of a debt. Aregbesola knows that Sukuk grants the investors a share of an asset, along with the commensurate cash flows and risk. As such, Sukuk securities adhere to Islamic laws
Osun’s Sukuk Bond By INWALOMHE DONALD sometimes referred to as Shari’ah principles, which prohibit the charging or payment of interest. Governor Aregbesola wants to achieve rapid economic development for the people of the state and other Nigerians by catalysing both national and international trading infrastructure, product innovation and information flow within strong, transparent and well regulated standards and guidelines. The governor wants to promote acceptance and integration with mainstream markets. According to the issuing houses, Governor Aregbesola’s sukuk initiative was said to be the first Islamic bond in sub-Saharan Africa. The Sukuk bond was issued in accordance with enactment of the Osun State Bonds, Notes and Other Securities Law 2012 and setting up the Osun Sukuk Company Plc. Though the governor knows that Sukuk is Islamic in nomenclature, the Sukuk bond is a conventional bond and coordinated by the regular investors in the nation’s capital and money market. The bond was issued in accordance with the Security and Exchange Commission’s rules and regulations. The N14. 4 billion sukuk (14. 75 percent) fixed return tranche 2 has 42 investors with Lotus Capital Limited as the leading issuing house and Augusto and co, one of Nigeria’s leading rating
agencies, as the rating agent. The bond, which is being used to finance roads and school constructions across the state, is due in 2020. While authorising and approving the offer at the board meeting for the Sukuk Company, Aregbesola said his government took the sukuk bond as an opportunity for the development of the state. “In name, the bond is Islamic but it has the conventional bonds’ characteristics and is coordinated by the regular capital and money market investors.Out of the 42 investors, only one of them (Jaiz Bank) is Islamic and the name sukuk is just a nomenclature. The investors are regular Nigerians,” the governor said. The emergence of Sukuk in Osun and indeed Nigeria has been one of the most significant developments in Islamic capital markets in recent years. Put simply, Sukuk instruments act as a bridge. They link their issuers, primarily sovereigns and corporations in Osun State,, Nigeria, Middle East, Africa and Southeast Asia, with a wide pool of investors, many of whom are seeking to diversify their holdings beyond traditional asset classes. In this way, funds raised through Sukuk can be allocated in an efficient and transparent way to infrastructure initiatives and other deserving projects in the 56 member countries of IDB, as well as communities in over 100 non-member countries. The Debt Management Office (DMO)
in Abuja has said that Osun’s debt profile is a sustainable one which is healthy for its economic development. Dr Abraham Nwankwo who is the Director General of DMO in the Presidency has said that Osun State is one of the best states in the federation with public debt management, describing the claims that Osun was heavily indebted as mere propaganda and hoax. Nigeria wants to make sure that all segments of the society is captured in the bond market because there are some groups of people or individuals who do not want to participate in ordinary bond because of interest. Osun took the initiative and helped in introducing Sukuk in Nigeria. This is Governor Aregbesola’s vision for the people of Osun and the rest of Nigeria by introducing Sukuk bond to sub Sahara Africa. The governor understands how domestic and foreign investors buy Sukuk which have various structures approved by Shari’ah boards of Islamic scholars. He knows that Sukuk issuance has proven its resilience during recent periods of turbulence in global capital markets. Governor Aregbesola understands that Sukuk will play a major role in the development of infrastructure and this is crucial to his vision of establishing Osun as a commercial hub for the South West of Nigeria. •Donald is the Director of Justice Research Centre, Benin City.
OSUN DEFENDER Thursday, September 25, 2014
PHOTOTALK
Faces At The 58th Birthday Anniversary Prayer For Prince Fatai Diekola Oyedele, In Oosogbo, Recently.
•(L-R) Princess Rafatu Alabi, Princess Rasaki Bolakale, Pa Ganiyu Oyedele (Fatai Oyedele’s father) and Busari Oyedele.
•A cross section of Islamic clerics at the prayer session.
•A cross-section of well-wishers.
•Another cross-section of well-wishers.
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PHOTOTALK
OSUN DEFENDER Thursday, September 25, 2014
Newly-posted Coordinator, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), State Of Osun, Mr Abada Okpiroro, Paid A Courtesy Visit To Governor Rauf Aregbesola At The Government House, Osogbo, Recently.
•(L-R) State Commissioner for Youths, Sports and Special Needs, Mr. Stephen Kola- Balogun; Deputy Governor, State of Osun, Otunba (Mrs) Grace Titi-Laoye Tomori and Governor Rauf Aregbesola on the occasion.
•Mr Abada Okpiroro (right), presenting a congratulatory card to Governor Aregbesola.
State Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Paid A Courtesy Visit To Chairman, Isoglass Industries, Dr Isaac Akinmokun, In His House At Ira, State Of Osun, Recently.
•(L-R) Dr Isaac Akinmokun, his wife and Governor Rauf Aregbesola.
•(L-R) Governor Aregbesola; Olura of Ira-Ikeji, Oba Julius Fatanmi and Oloosi of Osi land Ife,Oba Adeoye Ademakinwa.
OSUN DEFENDER Thursday, September 25, 2014
PHOTOTALK
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State Governor Of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Attended A Three-day Crusade Of Deeper Life Bible Church At Agunbelewo, Osogbo, Last Friday. Photo: SEGUN ADEJUMO.
•(L-R) General Superintendent of Deeper Life Bible Church, Pastor Williams Funsho Kumuyi; Governor Rauf Aregbesola and his deputy, Otunba (Mrs) Grace Laoye-Tomori.
•A cross section of the congregation during the service.
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PHOTOTALK
OSUN DEFENDER Thursday, September 25, 2014
Traditional Religion Faithful Association Paid A Courtesy Visit To The Governor, State Of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, At The Government House, Osogbo, State Of Osun, On Saturday.
•(R-L) The governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; Megbon Awo, Chief Tunde Falolu and President, Traditional Religion Worshippers Association (TRAWSO), Osun Branch, Chief Idowu Awopetu, during the traditional worshippers’ visit to the governor at the Government House, Osogbo, State of Osun, last Saturday.
•Governor Aregbesola (3rd right); Chief Awopetu (3rd left); Chief Falolu (2nd left); TRAWSO Treasurer, Chief Idowu Esuleke (right); TRAWSO Coordinator, Osun Central Senatorial District, Chief Tunde Aberefa (2nd right) and others, during the traditional worshippers’ visit to the governor at Government House, Osogbo, State of Osun, last Saturday.
INTERVIEW
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OSUN DEFENDER Thursday, September 25, 2014
Real Construction Just Beginning In Osun – Okanlawon Semiu Okanlawon is the Director of Press to the Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola. In this interview with CORRESPONDENT, BAMIDELE OGUNWUSI, he bares his mind on the last governorship election in the state, the on-going projects of the APC-led government, issues surrounding the Opon-Imo tablets and other issues. Excerpts… W 9,
HAT’s your observation on the outcome of the August
2014, governorship election in the state? We never had doubts about victory. Up till two weeks before the election, we were still beginning new projects. We were so convinced of victory. It is not possible for people to drop what is good for what is bad. People had tasted performance, they had tasted a kind of government that had elevated them and provided for them. So, we did not expect the people to jettison that for what was not good. What are some of the projects inaugurated during that time? Shortly before the election, the governor did the turning-of-the-sod of the assembly plant of small buses we called Korope. The assemby plant is at Dagbolu in Osogbo. If we were not so confident of victory, we would not be doing that. So, the issues of abandoning projects did not arise. Though we had some hitches financially before the election, and it was not only in Osun State – it was caused by unforeseen circumstances by the Federal Government. We had a 40 percent reduction in allocation and this was not a joke. It affected us badly but thanks to the foresightedness of our governor, Rauf Aregbesola. We had anticipated such things and we were able to pay salaries. Our opponents did not expect us to pay salaries but we were able to pay without borrowing. They did not expect us to pay salary and tried to turn the people against us and thank God we scaled through the turbulent waters. If you go round the state, you will see that the road projects, building projects are ongoing. We have assured people that at the end of this year, we are going to have mega classrooms that will contain not less than one hundred thousand pupils. So, if we are assuring people of that, we know what we are saying. So far, we have constructed not less than 900 kilometers of road all over the state and more and still ongoing. We have so many other projects on health, security, agriculture and other infrastructure spread across the state. Just a few weeks before the election, we distributed state-of-the-art equipment and Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC) to the Police. This is to tell you that we were never bothered. Our opponents are so good at propaganda and they were able to change the mind of some people but they were not able to do that for the majority of our people because they know them. Election came and it has gone, we have fought a battle and now we are concerned with how we will make life more meaningful to the people of the state. The government is a continuum and we will continue with our good works. Of course, if a government knows that the only reason why the people are so personate about it and so adamant that this is the kind of government they want, then the only thing you can do is to keep on doing what endeared you to them.
•OKANLAWON
There is this fear that most governments and governors who won second term don’t perform the way they did in their first term. What is your take on this? Let me tell you one thing: this government of Rauf Aregbesola is a government that put people at the centre of all that it is doing and I tell you it can never falter, whether first term or second term. I don’t see the reason that will make Governor Rauf Aregbesola not to perform more than what he did in the first term. The first four years was like when a plane was trying to take off, which was the most turbulent time, now that it has reached the cruising level, it has stabilized. The rate at which people will see development will even be faster than before. When we came, we met a rotten state, now, after removing all the obstacles to development, is it now that we have solved all the problems we met on the ground that we will not be able to perform? When we came, we met a terrible situation and thank God we have put an end to those problems and the people of the state are beginning to see developments like they had never seen before. If you have seen anything like governors not performing in second term in other states, that cannot happen in this state. I assure you that in four years’ time, the people of the state will tell you that the first term was just a stepping stone. The real construction in the
state has just begun. What is the assurance that developments going on in the state will get to the nooks and crannies of the state? Let me tell you this, I can beat my chest anywhere that what is being witnessed in the state has never been seen before now. There is no part of the state that is not experiencing developments. Places were there are no schools now have schools, places without hospitals now have it, in most places where hospitals have collapsed, the Rauf Aregbesola’s government has rebuilt them with drugs, school pupils are not been well fed. In Osun of today, everywhere is witnessing developments. You said hospitals have been rebuilt, but when I was coming into the state, I saw an abandoned general hospital at Ikire, what is the state doing about rehabilitating it, or is there any other hospital in the town? There is another hospital in the town. It was relocated several years ago when they people said the place was been regularly attacked by armed robbers. The place has been like that long time ago, it even preceded Oyinlola’s regime. On Opon-Imo tablets, Prof Adeyeye spoke on a Televeison programme before the election that the Opon Imo has some issues. How soon will those issues be resolved? There are no serious issues
surrounding Opon-Imo. The opposition just tried to make an issue out of the collection of the tablets back from the pupils. They made it looked to then people that the collection was because of any fault. The agreement was that when you are passing out of school, you are going to drop it. There was a case of a few of them who failed to return those tablets and we have to retrieve it from them. What I learnt was that the tablets have technical issues from Evans Publishers, which owns the copyright for the e-book used for the tablets. How true is this? It was from Evans that we got the e-book and if there is no problem with the hard book, there cannot be any problem with the Opon-Imo tablet. There is no issue whatsoever with the tablets. Currently, the Opon-Imo is being revised. Let me tell you, is there any device that doesn’t need upgrading? Look at ipad by Apple; they keep upgrading it with several innovations. I don’t know why some people are afraid of innovations. The question we should ask those who are making noise about the tablet is that, did they come close to this innovation? The answer is no; and I don’t understand why they are making noise about it. They said it is Ibo made. Even if it is Hausa made or China made, the fact is that we are doing something. If we do not attempt to do something, will there be an Opon-Imo tablet? Let them also begin to think of what they can do and not to pull down and innovation like this. Nobody can destroy Opon-Imo and it has come to stay. Subsequent governments after us will only build on it. It has become our educational standard. Nobody, no matter how wicked a government it is, will tell the people that it can not continue with Opon-Imo. The people will revolt, parents will revolt and students will stone such person. You can only come and improve on it. At the launch of Opon-Imo, the Governor said the state will build a factory where the tablets will be manufactured. How far has the state gone with that? Yes, the factory is on-going and it is one of the ways the governor want to create employment for the people. The Governor said out of the 1,500 units of the tablets, 50,000 will be imported and that the rest 100,000 units will be manufactured by the company. Will the 50,000 units be enough for the SS1 to SS3 in the state? When we first took delivery of the first batch, we prioritized it and we first gave them to those students in the final year. I mean students that are about to write their West African Examination Council exams. We were giving them out as we collect them. We collected them in batches. There was no student who did not get his tablet. •Culled from DAILY INDEPENDENT
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OSUN DEFENDER Thursday, September 25, 2014
Job Vacancies In Nigeria Guinness Nigeria Plc recruitment for an Assistant Brand Manager in Lagos Guinness Nigeria Plc - We are Guinness Nigeria, member of Diageo Plc the world’s leading premium drinks business with an unrivalled collection of beverage alcohol & non-alcohol brands across the Spirits, Wine & Beer categories. Guinness Nigeria operates a Total Beverage Business (TBB). A key contributor to the success of the GNPLC strategic plan is an effective & flexible field sales force demonstrating industry leadership in both volume driving & brand building activity. We put the customer at the heart of everything we do, and through this, will deliver sustained, mutual growth for our brands, categories, customers and partners. Will you partner with us on this journey? We are recruiting to fill the position below: Job Title: Assistant Brand Manager - Guinness AutoReqId: 43343BR Function: Marketing Location: Lagos Reports To: Senior Brand Manager - Guinness Qualifications and Experience Required Bachelors 3 – 5 years relevant experience Good communication and presentation skills Commercial acumen, confident, enthusiastic and persuasive Attention to details/Good Project Management Skills Strong interpersonal skills to build good working relationships across all functions and markets Convincing personality, good planner, self –starter and committed to results Context/Scope Guinness Nigeria plc is a strategically important market for Diageo and for the Global Guinness Portfolio being one of the most competitive globally. Purpose of Role To support the design and implementation of Brand strategies in order to achieve targeted profit, market share and volume objectives in the Guinness category To develop and execute brand building activities and projects within the Guinness brand team. Dimensions: Develops & executes plans against strategic growth opportunities. Maintains business critical controls & compliance documentation Is responsible for embedding and day to day management of SmartBrand Approvals and implementation of the Digital Code of Marketing Practice. Financial Support the Guinness team in the Management and accountability for implementation of A&P spend across portfolio, efficiencies and evaluation across all activities. Market Complexity Work across all Nigeria to drive growth and profitability and to deliver market share Leadership and Functional Responsibilities The role holder will work with the other members of the Guinness Team to deliver the Big Ideas/Growth Drivers initiatives Top 3 Accountabilities Play a supporting role in the following activities: Support the development of GAME Plans for Guinness in Nigeria and the execution of all Guinness brand initiatives. Brand and Commercial execution including evaluation of Big ideas/Growth Drivers initiatives for the brand. Significant contact with cross-functional teams e.g. Sales,trade marketing,procurement and suppliers of marketing services in the delivery of brand initiatives How to Apply Interested candidates should https://sjobs.brassring.com/TGWEbHost/ jobdetails.aspx?partnerid=11729&siteid=208&jobid=2314592 ————————————————————————————— Cornerstone Insurance Plc Jobs in Lagos for Sales Representative/Marketers We are Cornerstone Insurance Plc. Incorporated on 26th July 1991 as a private limited liability company and became a Public Limited Liability, quoted on the Nigerian Stock Exchange in 1997. Our organisation was established to conduct Insurance business in a professional, ethical and customer-focused manner and has remained committed to these values over the years. CornerStone Insurance Plc. is recruiting to fill the position below: Job Title: Sale Representative/Marketer Location: Lagos Qualifications First degree (B.sc/ HND) or minimum of OND in Marketing (with Insurance experience). Mature and good communication skills (both orally and written). Be able to demonstrate a keen ability to inter-relate with people of diverse backgrounds and have a service-orientated disposition. Must have been resident in the intended territory for the last 12 months and must have had a working knowledge of the location for at least 12 months within the last 5 years. Should be aggressive, effective communicators, team player, sociable, versatile, resourceful, hardworking and have initiative. Sales experience in the insurance industry an added advantage. Good presentation skills. How to Apply Interested candidates should forward their CV’s to: mrasaki@cornerstone.com.ng or kbsanya@cornerstone.com.ng Application Deadline 1st October, 2014 ———————————————————————————————— Jobs in Abuja for a Graduate Field Marketing & Sales Officers at HiiT Plc HiiT Plc is an experienced Company in the ICT Industry with major focus on IT training/ Education, Publishing, IT Solutions Development & Services, e-Learning Solution Development and Implementation among other businesses. We seek to recruit passionate, competent, committed and result-oriented person to fill the following position: Job Title: Graduate Field Marketing & Sales Officers Location: Abuja Requirements Candidate must hold B.Sc/HND in Marketing or any other Social Science discipline. Must be resident in Abuja. Must possess HiiT ICT Proficiency License. At least 1 year post-NYSC experience in Sales and Marketing of FMCGs. Excellent Communication skills and Capacity for meeting Sales targets. Proven track record of performance. How to Apply Interested and Qualified candidates should send CV to: msmhac@hiitplc.com Application Deadline 30th September 2014. —————————————————————————————————— Jobs in Onne, Rivers State at FMC Technologies for a Warehouse Technician FMC Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: FTI) is a leading global provider of technology solutions for the energy industry. Named by Forbes® Magazine as one of the World’s Most Innovative Companies in 2013, the Company has approximately 19,500 employees and operates 30 production facilities in 17 countries. FMC Technologies designs, manufactures and services technologically sophisticated systems and products such as subsea production and processing systems, surface wellhead systems, high pressure fluid control equipment, measurement solutions, and marine loading systems for the oil and gas industry. Job Title: Warehouse Technician II Location: Onne, Nigeria Requisition ID:#51074841
Responsibilities Responsible for timely and accurate physical receipt, issuance, quality certification, tagging and location of all PO inventory and non inventory (Consumables) materials and documentation of all proof of deliveries. Main Tasks Perform work in line with FMC Safety and Quality policies and Procedures. Timely receipt/issuance of inventory and non inventory items, quality certification, tagging and bin location in a proactive manner. Carry out Back Loading and Load Out activities to ensure seamless customer success delivery. Followup in a timely manner to assign appropriate storage/bin location and hand over information to supervisor update in SAP. Manage fuel receipt and consumption process and ensure adequate records. Generate weekly report. Ensure proper storage of all chemicals, lubricants and compressed Gas Cylinders. Track manufactured and expiry dates and ensures compliance with MSDS, ISO 14000, and FMC Safety and Quality policies. Ensure all chemicals are issued on FIFO bases. Interface with third part to coordinate logistic equipment needed for material movement. Monitor and ensure accurate/timely docummentation of all Proof of deliveries. Scan and upload into Supply Chain Shared Point, Back loading, MSDS, Mill Test Certificate for record purposes. Ensure storage/bin location uptimization. Ensure yard is orderly and clean all the times in line with FMC 5S housekeeping standards. Liaise with supervisor for timely preservation of all inventory items. Timely issue all material request base on pick ticket and ensure close out, in SAP /bin location in a proactive manner. Carry out all Cycle and Physical inventory count exercise to establish level of accuracy, stock availability, storage/bin location and SAP information . Monitor preservation material consumption and ensure material availability. Requirements Minimum HND Engineering, Social Science or equivalent. Minimum 2 years experience in Warehouse material receipt system. Subsea production system is added advantage. APICS or CIPSMN certification an added advantage. Ability to handle multiple tasks in a high volume environment and meet dead lines and priorities. PC skills including proficiency in spreadsheet and word processing applications required. Should be able to interpret job requirements and coordinate equipment required. Must demonstrate good communication skills with co-workers in team based environment.Accuracy and attention, and ability to identify deviation from standards. Ability to read and understand drawings and to perform moderately complex calculations. Must be able to demonstrate good organization and planning skills. Method of Application Interested and qualified candidates should http://careers.fmctechnologies.com/JobPosting/51074841 Application Deadline 19th September, 2014 ——————————————————————————————— Da Viva Jobs for Sales Representative (Contract) in Lagos Da Viva is a brand for the fashion lover, blending cutting edge designs with the vibrant colours associated with traditional African fabrics. Da Viva - a leading brand in fashion is currently looking for an enthusiastic, self motivated and target driven candidates for the position below: Job Title: Sales Representative (Contract) Location: Lagos Qualification Minimum of OND in any discipline. Marketing/Sales Representative is an added advantage. Method of Application Interested candidates should send their CV’s to: official@da-viva.com Application Deadline 1st October, 2014 —————————————————————————————— Nestle Nigeria Plc recruitment for a Planning and Distribution Manager Nestle Nigeria Plc - As the Leading Nutrition Health and Wellness Company, we are committed to enhancing People’s lives, everywhere, every day. Infact enhancing lives will influence everything we do together. A presence in more than 130 countries and factories in more than 80 research centres brings many global benefits. We believe in long term career development and appreciate how challenges and motivation will help you reach your potential. Nestle Nigeria Plc upholds the principle of Non- Discrimination and Equal Employment Opportunities in its recruitment processes. Applications are hereby required from suitably qualified candidates to fill the vacant position of: Job Title: Planning and Distribution Manager Job Number: 140005OJ Location: Nigeria Job Description ‘As the leading nutrition, health and wellness company, we are committed to enhancing people’s lives, everywhere, every day’ Responsibilities Distribution Ensure the delivery of outstanding service at minimum “cost to serve” by putting in place a structured continuous improvement approach based on the application of Tools and the implementation of Best Practices. Set targets for transport service and cost and continuously keep track on KPIs close to the target values by driving cost saving initiatives to improve the performance and costs in transportation Implementing, monitoring and managing Safety, Health and Environment, Quality and CARE regulations and Best Practice Supply Planning Establishes an 18 month production plan for the factories within their responsibility (including sub/contracting factories where within scope of role) Creates a feasible production plan that respects capacity defined (available capacity) Entry Requirements 3 or more years of operational experience at market/business level is useful, in at least one of the following areas: Factory Planning Supply Network Planning / IMS Planner Customer Service Sales Warehouse Management Finance: Business Planning, budget control, cost management Purchasing Factory Production team leader Demand Planning Experience in the management of projects such as: Distribution Network Redesign Distribution Costing and Finance. Strategic decision making related to Transportation. High Performance Logistics Customer Logistics. How to Apply Interested candidates should https://tas-nestle.taleo.net/careersection/3/jobdetail.ftl?job=140005OJ Application Deadline 2nd October, 2014 ———————————————————————————————
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FOREIGN NEWS
OSUN DEFENDER Thursday, September 25, 2014
U.S. Backed By Arabs, Launches First Strikes On Fighters In Syria T HE United States and Arab allies bombed Syria for region’s countries have a stake. filmed through night-vision The Western-backed Syrian apparatus, showed lights from the first time on Tuesday, killing dozens of Islamic State fighters and members of a separate al Qaeda- opposition, which is fighting jets flying overhead firing a linked group, pursuing a campaign against militants into a against both Assad and Islamic stream of projectiles at the State, welcomed the air strikes ground. It was not clear where war at the heart of the Middle East. which it said would help defeat or when the video was filmed. “I can confirm that U.S. INFORMED Jordan, confirming its The Syrian government said Assad. military and partner nation The targets included Raqqa participation, said its air force forces are undertaking military Washington had informed it action against (Islamic State) hours before the strikes. city, the main headquarters in had bombed “a number of terrorists in Syria using a mix Secretary of State John Kerry Syria of Islamic State fighters targets that belong to some of fighter, bomber and had sent a letter to Damascus who have proclaimed a terrorist groups that sought to Tomahawk Land Attack through his Iraqi counterpart, caliphate stretching from commit terrorist acts inside Syria’s Aleppo province Jordan,” although it did not Missiles,” Rear Admiral John it said. A ministry statement read through the Tigris and specify any location. Kirby, Pentagon press Israel shot down a Syrian on state television said Syria Euphrates river valleys to the secretary, said in a statement. aircraft over air space it U.S. Central Command said would continue to attack outskirts of Baghdad. Photographs taken in Raqqa controls in the Golan Heights Bahrain, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Islamic State. It was ready to with any showed wreckage of what the but there was no indication the Arabia and the United Arab cooperate Emirates participated in or international effort to fight Islamic State fighter said was a incident, confirmed by Syria, supported the strikes against terrorism and was coordinating drone that had been shot down. was linked to the U.S. action. Pieces of the wreckage, WEAPONS SUPPLIES, Islamic State targets around the with the government of Iraq. The United States has including what appeared to be CHECKPOINTS HIT eastern cities of Raqqa, Deir alU.S. officials and the Syrian Zor, Hasakah and Albu Kamal. previously said it would not part of a propeller, were shown Observatory said buildings Targets included “fighters, coordinate with Assad’s loaded into the back of a van. A video posted online, used by the militants, their training compounds, government. Washington says headquarters and command and Assad must leave power, control facilities, storage particularly after he was facilities, a finance center, accused of using chemical supply trucks and armed weapons against his own people last year. vehicles,” it said. Islamic State’s Sunni Separately, U.S. forces acting alone launched strikes in fighters, now equipped with another area of Syria against an U.S. weapons seized during al Qaeda-linked group, the their advance in Iraq, are among Nusra Front, to “disrupt the most powerful opponents imminent attack” against U.S. of Assad, a member of a and Western interests by Shi’ite-derived sect. They are “seasoned al Qaeda veterans”, also battling against rival Sunni groups in Syria, against the CentCom said. The Syrian Observatory for Shi’ite-led government of Iraq Human Rights, which monitors and against Kurdish forces on the war in Syria, said at least both sides of the border. In recent days they have 20 Islamic State fighters were killed in strikes that hit at least captured villages from Kurds 50 targets in Raqqa and Deir near Syria’s Turkish border, al-Zor provinces in Syria’s sending nearly 140,000 refugees across the frontier east. It said strikes targeting the since last week. The United Nusra Front in the northern Nations said it was bracing for provinces of Aleppo and Idlib up to 400,000 people to flee. Washington is determined to had killed at least 50 fighters and eight civilians. The Nusra defeat the fighters without Front is al Qaeda’s official helping Assad, a policy that Syrian wing and Islamic State’s requires deft diplomacy in a •oUnited States and Arab allies to tackle terror. rival. The Observatory said war in which nearly all the most of the fighters killed there were not Syrians. The air attacks fulfill President Barack Obama’s SRAELI troops shot dead two Palestinians in the West returned fire and they were pledge to strike in Syria against Bank city of Hebron on Tuesday and the military said killed in the exchange,” Israeli spokesman Islamic State, a Sunni Muslim they were members of Hamas responsible for the killing military group that has seized swathes of three Israeli youths in June, an attack that led to the Lieutenant-Colonel Peter Lerner said. of Syria and Iraq, imposing a Gaza war. The governor of Hebron, mediaeval interpretation of Marwan Kawasme and the kidnapping and killing of Islam, slaughtering prisoners Amar Abu Aysha, both in their the three teenage seminary Kamel Hmeid, confirmed on and ordering Shi’ites and non- 30s, were shot dead during a students, who were abducted Palestinian radio that the two Muslims to convert or die. gun battle after Israeli troops while hitchhiking at night near were dead. “It’s clear now the two Islamic State vowed surrounded a house in the city a Jewish settlement in the West martyrs, al-Kawasme and Abu revenge. before dawn, the army and Bank on June 12. “These attacks will be residents said. Israel had been The military said army and Aysha, were assassinated this answered,” an Islamic State hunting the men for three police forces were trying to morning during a military fighter told Reuters by Skype months. arrest the two suspects when operation in the Hebron University area. We condemn from Syria, blaming the “sons Kawasme and Abu Aysha a firefight erupted. of Saloul” - a derogatory term were suspected of carrying out “We opened fire, they this crime, this assassination, for Saudi Arabia’s ruling family - for allowing the strikes to take place. The Sunni fighters, who have proclaimed a caliphate power players of trying to ruling over all Muslims, shook control Afghanistan’s the Middle East by sweeping foreign policy. through northern Iraq in June. UTGOING Afghan President Hamid Karzai on “Today, I tell you again They then alarmed the West in Tuesday blamed the United States for his country’s that the war in Afghanistan recent weeks by beheading two U.S. journalists and a British long war, a final swipe at the country that helped is not our war, but imposed aid worker, raising fears that bring him to power 13 years ago but towards which he has on us and we are the they could attack Western become increasingly bitter. victims,” Karzai said. “No countries. His farewell speech came The conflict kills peace will arrive unless the The strikes took place days ahead of the planned thousands of Afghans each U.S. or Pakistan want it.” hours before Obama goes to the In recent years, Karzai U.N. General Assembly in New swearing in of a new year and has claimed the York where he will try to rally president, Ashraf Ghani, lives of more than 2,200 has sharply denounced the more nations behind his drive after months of potentially American and other United States for the deaths to destroy Islamic State. violent crisis over a international forces in of Afghan civilians in air The action pitches disputed election that ended Afghanistan. strikes and for holding Washington for the first time in a power-sharing deal, yet suspected Afghan militants “One of the reasons was into the three-year-old Syrian prisoner without trial. The civil war, which has killed to be tested, with rival that the Americans did not relationship deteriorated to Abdullah Abdullah. want peace because they 200,000 people and displaced Karzai blamed both the had their own agenda and near breaking point this year, millions. States and objectives,” Karzai said. He when Karzai refused to sign U.S. forces have previously United hit Islamic State targets in Iraq, neighboring Pakistan for the did not elaborate, but in the a key security pact with the where Washington supports continuing war with the past has suggested United States. He said he had traveled the government, but had held Taliban-led insurgency and continued violence has back from a military warned the new government been an excuse for the to Pakistan, where much of engagement in Syria, where the to be “be extra cautious in United States to keep bases the Taliban’s leadership is United States opposes believed to be based, at least relations with the U.S. and in the country. President Bashar al-Assad. He also accused Pakistani 20 times seeking a SYRIAN GOVERNMENT the West”.
weapons supplies and checkpoints were targeted in the attacks on Raqqa. Areas along the Iraq-Syria border were also hit. Residents in Raqqa had said last week that Islamic State was moving underground after Obama signaled on Sept. 11 that air attacks on its forces could be expanded from Iraq to Syria. The group had evacuated buildings it was using as offices, redeployed its heavy weaponry, and moved fighters’ families out of the city, the residents said. “They are trying to keep on the move,” said one Raqqa resident, communicating via the Internet and speaking on condition of anonymity because of safety fears. “They only meet in very limited
gatherings.” The addition of Arab allies in the attacks was crucial for the credibility of the Americanled campaign. Some U.S. allies in the Middle East are skeptical of how far Washington will commit to a complex conflict set against the backdrop of Islam’s 1,300-year-old rift between Sunnis and Shi’ites. With the backing of Jordan and the Gulf states, Washington has gained the support of Sunni states that are hostile to Assad. It has not, however, won the open support of Assad himself or his main regional ally, Shi’ite Iran. Some traditional Western allies, including Britain which went to war alongside the United States in Iraq and Afghanistan, have so far stayed out of the campaign.
Israel Says Its Troops Kill Hamas Men Accused Of Slaying Teens
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as deliberate and premeditated murder,” he said. VIOLENCE SPREAD Kawasme and Abu Aysha were affiliated with Hamas, which initially denied any link to the June attack. Last month, however, the group acknowledged responsibility, although its leadership said it had no advance knowledge that the men were planning to abduct the students. “Hamas praises the role martyrs Abu Aysha and
Afghanistan’s Karzai Slams U.S., Pakistan In Farewell Speech
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negotiated end to the war, but his efforts were thwarted. Neither the U.S. nor the Pakistani embassies in Kabul had immediate comment on Karzai’s speech. Karzai has been in power since 2001 after being plucked from virtual obscurity by the United States following the overthrow of the Taliban’s radical Islamist government for sheltering al Qaeda’s terrorist leadership after the 9/11 attacks on the U.S. The deterioration of his relationship with the West was seen by some as an effort to shape his legacy as an independent leader rather than a U.S. puppet as maintained by the Taliban. Karzai was barred by the constitution from running for a third term this year.
Kawasme played in chasing down Israeli settlers and we stress that their assassination will not weaken the resistance,” Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said in Gaza. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised the operation. “We will continue to strike terrorism everywhere,” he said at the start of a cabinet meeting in Jerusalem. “This morning the long arm of Israeli justice caught them.” Israeli forces have conducted widespread sweeps across the West Bank in the past three months, rounding up hundreds of suspected Hamas members in house-to-house raids in the hunt for the suspects behind the attack. The abduction and killing of Eyal Yifrach, 19, and Gilad Shaer and Naftali Fraenkel, both 16, caused alarm throughout Israel and set off a cycle of violence, including the killing of Palestinian Mohammed Abu Khudair, 16, by three Israelis who have been arrested and charged. Khudair ’s killing led to clashes between Palestinian youths and Israeli police in East Jerusalem, while the round-up of Hamas suspects across the West Bank provoked rocket fire at Israel from militants in Gaza, leading to the war. Gaza medical officials say 2,100 Palestinians, most of them civilians, were killed in the 50-day conflict, while 67 Israeli soldiers and six civilians in Israel were also killed. Efforts to forge a lasting peace agreement following the war are set to resume in Cairo on Tuesday.
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NEWS
OSUN DEFENDER Thursday, September 25, 2014
Osun Guber: ‘Omisore Should Stop Propagating Falsehood’ By ABOSEDE AKINPELU
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HE All Progressives Congress in the State of Osun has appealed to the media to tread softly on the falsehood being pushed out to the public by the State’s PDP and it’s gubernatorial candidate, Iyiola Omisore, who are in the habit of manipulating information to distort facts in regards to Osun poli tics in general and the August 9 governorship election with its fallout in particular. The APC said that it was particularly disturbed by the repetitive falsehood of Omisore in the last three years over the person of Ambassador Rufus Akeju in relation to the APC, whose integrity is being crucified by the falsehood of Omisore and the PDP. According to the APC, Omisore has been lying against Akeju and the APC that the former Ambassador is a protégé of Bola Ahmed Tinubu as a result of which he has bias for Tinubu’s political affiliation; first for the ACN and now for the APC. The Independent National Electoral Commissioner has refused to accept Omisore’s allegations against Akeju except Omisore can substantiate them with incontrovertible evidence in the court of law. For three years now, Omisore has avoided the court, yet he keeps propagating falsehood in the media, believing that Nigerians generally, and Osun people in particular were so unintelligent that they can hardly distinguished truth from falsehood. The insult on the intelligence of Nigerians has to stop. And only the media can stop it. The APC was reacting to the latest of Omisore’s allegation that Prof. Attahiru Jega has redeployed Akeju to Osun to frustrate PDP’s petition at the Tribunal against Aregbesola’s victory at the August 9 gubernatorial election. Omisore was reported to have addressed a press
conference in Osogbo last Saturday at which he alleged that the purpose Akeju was returned to Osun by Jega was to ‘stultify, scuttle, frustrate and hinder the process of inspecting all the electoral materials used for the August poll by installing obstacles to completely slow or hinder the PDP’s efforts to inspect the materials. Besides, Omisore tried to further play on the intelligence of everybody by rehearsing a dead event when he referred to a so- called Federal High Court injunction, preventing Akeju from parading himself as Osun REC. The INEC immediately appealed that ruling. But the PDP in a strange move, went back to the court to withdraw the case. That move by the PDP surprised the Judge who then adjourned the matter sine dine since 2010 till date In effect Akeju stands vindicated until proven guilty of allegation against his integrity by Omisore and the PDP. The APC therefore challenged Omisore that he should show Nigerians and the world through the media what contra ry judgment he had to the effect that Akeju is compromised. ‘If Omisore cannot produce such judgment made by any court after the PDP withdrew the case from the court in 2010; ‘the APC submitted, ‘then he should stop using precious media space to lie and malign the integrity of an innocent man, who the PDP has found totally impossible to corrupt’, the APC said. On the issue of inspection of electoral materials of the August 9 polls, the APC said the procedure for inspection of these materials stipulated by the INEC is applicable to both the PDP and APC in every material particular. ‘So what. Is Omisore’s problem’? the APC asked ‘possibly ‘, the party continued, ‘the PDP is on edge because the procedure put in place by the INEC makes it impossible for the PDP to fraudulently manipulate,’ the APC declared.
August 9, 2014 Governorship Election Victims If you were harassed, arrested, detained, assaulted by any suspected agents of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) whether in uniform or mufti, during the August 9, 2014 governorship election in the State of Osun, visit our office, opposite Guarantee Trust Bank, OgoOluwa, Osogbo, or call either of these phone numbers – 08033927286 and 08033880205. We are interested in your plight by recording it for history. - Management
Congratulations The People’s Governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has been re-elected to carry on for another term of four years. Ogbeni Aregbesola recorded a resounding success in the justconcluded election. The election shows that the Governor is well embraced by all the people of the State of the Virtuous. In view of this, your popular grassroots tabloid, OSUN DEFENDER newspaper, is doing a supplement to congratulate the People’s Governor. Individuals, corporate bodies, institutions and well-wishers can avail themselves with the pocket-friendly advert rate of OSUN DEFENDER newspaper.
Advert Rate Full Page Colour Full Page Black & White Half Page Colour Half Page Black & White Quarter Page Colour Quater Page Black & White Any of these phone lines can be contacted: 08033927286, 08033880205, 08061197897 and 08023191891
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N150,000 N120,000 N80,000 N70,000 N50,000 N40,000 - Management
OSUN DEFENDER Thursday, September 25, 2014
PHOTOTALK
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At The Three-day Crusade Of Deeper Life Bible Church At Agunbelewo, Osogbo, Photo: SEGUN ADEJUMO. Last Friday.
•Worshippers at the programme.
•A cross section of congregations during the service.
•A cross section of Deeper Life Bible Church members during the service.
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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2014 E are having so W many unfolding scenarios now that constant reminders need easy passage to the stable of the general public, so that Nigeria will be saved from sinking deeper into the mud of mess that has begun to blot our psyches, that need urgent rescue and rehabilitation. We have had no vacuum actually in governance and national life, it is only that those who have been privileged to so occupy have done so with more concentration on what will benefit personal ego, as against the national needs that must be met, so that all Nigerians can derive maximum benefits from sustainable development. Our country is currently at a crossroad because we are at a point where majority of citizens have become pessimistic about leaders’ ability to create secured future for millions of people, who are striving assiduously to work hard and make a living out of personal efforts that are more assuring that dependency on imaginary benefits that have never derived full expression from endless promises emanating from seat of power. Ironically, our economy operates in such a way that there must be some basic facilities in place to fashion a way in a competitive world. Failure to put those facilities in place has always hampered attempts by individuals to maximize potentials that are innately domiciled in individual ingenuities. We need no soothsayer to reveal to us the next presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). All intents and purposes point to the direction of incumbent President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, because the only co-contestant for the post has fizzled out of the configuration. Only last Wednesday, Jigawa State governor; Sule Lamido, who was generally believed to give Jonathan a fierce fight for the coveted seat, stepped down. All members of the Board of Trustees, except former President Olusegun Obasanjo and the Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives have unanimously adopted President Jonathan as sole runner under PDP. So all is now set to make PDP’s primaries that are coming up later in the year mere formalities. Every aspirant for other posts will now begin to jostle to gain Mr President’s attention for endorsement, as is the usual practice in our political terrain. Over ninety percent of the candidates will emerge through consensus because their issues would have been trashed behind the scene. Only those acceptable to the loyalists of President Goodluck Jonathan would be considered for elective posts and selection into various appointments. The summary of the matter is that the same set of people that have been superintending over Nigeria would continue to determine the fate of over
By ADE OLUGBOTEMI
A Nation In Search Of Better Alternative
•JONATHAN
one hundred and seventy million Nigerians if re-elected into power in February general elections. However, the implication of all these is that the PDP are telling Nigerians that the best they can showcase to them as their second term presidential candidate is President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, under whose regime people are grappling with myriads of problems, ranging from insecurity to lives and properties, to mass unemployment, fraud and corrupt practices, unresolved power problem, and many more. Many concerned citizens have come to the conclusion that Nigeria is doomed, if President Jonathan is the best available material that can lead this country for another four years. Most Nigerians are wondering whether Nigeria is so bedevilled by lack of experts that can turn things around for the citizens to experience better living condition than we have it now under PDP-led administration. Nature has been very kind to us; so
much that Nigeria is spared the trouble of periodic disaster that many nations grapple with in accordance with climatic change. No earth tremor or earthquake, no volcanic eruption, no typhoon wind, and many resources are there untapped; yet those who are supposed to be think-tanks for the country are busy thinking about how what is available for Nigerians to manage will become booties for a few to ration among themselves. Majority of Nigerians have the choice to terminate the contract between us and the few supposed super humans that have succinctly pocketed the entire country with her vast resources. Political instrument has become petty for all Toms, Jacks, Dicks and Harries to manipulate for personal whims and caprices; resulting in policy somersaults that clip our wings, so it has become extremely difficult for our Eagles to fly, perch and do what others who have similitude of underdevelopment do with ease. We pride in our size as the
populous country in Africa, but we are not ashamed that we are incapable of doing the feats of Lilliputian countries. The big question now is: Do we have the sagacity to press through our wish? The only way to get to power is through political party platform; except by illegitimate means of military take-over through coup d’état, which has become unpopular around the world. That is the reason most countries work on viable alternatives to the ruling parties, so that the goofing of the ruling party will automatically pave way for the strongest opposition party. In our case, the All Progressives Party (APC) remains the most viable alternative, as the strongest opposition party. It is then the duty of leaders and members of the party to convince Nigerians that they are indeed ready to take up the challenge. Most Nigerians are not oblivious of the arrangement that led to the move by PDP not to have more than one contestant during party primary. It is believed that as the self-acclaimed biggest party in Africa, the only way to convince the electorate that there is well-entrenched internal democracy is to avoid the rancour that is usually associated with primary elections that makes it possible to choose one amongst many. It is usually at this point that those who are dissatisfied defect to other political parties or get involved in anti-party activities. These, PDP seem to have put behind them. Time is fast running out on any political parties that are yet to get their acts together about the choice of flagbearers for the coveted seat of Mr President during the fast-approaching February 2015 elections. Choice of candidates at this point in time must be carefully addressed because of the associated intricacies that often cause resentment and disaffections among party members. This is a time that APC will convince people that they are very ready to provide more credible alternative platform of governance that will be devoid of unhealthy rigmarole that has cost us impetus of development and advancement in the competitive world’s economy. Other political parties can afford to play games as is often the case and thereafter fizzled into oblivion until the threshold of another term of four years, when it will become necessary for them again to pick their crumps from where they left them. This attitude has deprived innocent Nigerians opportunities that are elusive through political incontinence that has characterized our political evolution over the years. We need to be more fervent in prayers now than ever before, so that come 2015, the best Nigerian for the post of president will emerge to take us to the next enviable level. This remains the only way we can have a better future guaranteed. Nigeria must survive.
OSUN DEFENDER is published by Moremi Publishing House Limited, Promise Point Building, Opposite Guaranty Trust Bank GTB, Gbongan Road, Osogbo, State of Osun. All correspondence to the Managing Editor, KOLA OLABISI, Telephone: 08033927286 (kolaolabisi@yahoo.com); Editor, KAYODE AGBAJE, Telephone: 0803-388-0205, E-mail:
osundefender@yahoo.com, kayodeagbaje@yahoo.com. ISSN: 0794-8050.Website: www.osundefender.org.